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NEWARK, N.J. (August 31, 2015) – The Rutgers University-Newark men's soccer program returns to the field on Tuesday night when it hosts the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the 2015 season-opener on Alumni Field in Newark.
 
The Scarlet Raiders are coming off their second-straight at-large berth to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championship and the program's first-ever win in the national tournament, going 16-6-0 overall, including a 7-2-0 mark in the hyper-competitive New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
 
Despite losing several key pieces, Rutgers-Newark is poised and focused for another deep run in the conference tournament and another trip to the NCAA's.
 
Leading that charge will be a pair of senior captains in goalkeeper Matt Broomall and center back Paul Tarnawski – a duo that has played a major role in guiding the team to two of the most memorable seasons Scarlet Raider soccer has ever seen.
 
A two-time NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year (2012, 2014) selection and an all-conference and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region pick last year, Broomall's 1.18 goals-against average was the fourth-lowest in the history of the program, notching five clean sheets in 2014. He made 63 saves a season ago, helping the Scarlet Raiders to the postseason each year he has been with the program, while picking up 32 victories in goal for R-N over the last two seasons.
 
Tarnawski has been a starter for the Scarlet Raider defense since coming to Newark in the fall of 2012, and has been a major reason for success. A central figure in the Rutgers-Newark back line, the Linden, N.J. native helped limit opponents to just 24 goals in 2014, while holding foes to 10 shots or less 12 times in that same season. With 60 matches played to his name, Tarnawski has scored twice in his career and boasts a wealth of experience.
 
"We lost some major contributors in our defense, but with Matt (Broomall) and Paul (Tarnawski) returning, we have the leadership to make a seamless transition," Head Coach Kevin East said. "Both have grown into strong leaders over the last few seasons, and I am confident they will continue to do so as we progress through the season."
 
Senior back Ardian Djeka returns to the program for his final campaign after injury cut his 2014 season short. Djeka has appeared in 60 matches over the course of his career, tallying three goals and handing out five assists. The Ridgefield, N.J. native should see minutes in back for the Scarlet Raiders.
 
Broomall, Tarnawski and Djeka are the only seniors on the '15 edition of the Raiders, but the returning junior class is a deep one - midfielder Anthony DeRisi, midfielder Hubert Dul, midfielder Dylan Elias, forward Tyler Nowak, forward Charlie O'Connell, back Mark Pazmino, back Jaspal Singh and back Frank Cianci.
 
DeRisi is coming off a strong second season for the Scarlet Raiders after earning honorable mention All-NJAC honors as a freshman. The Allentown, N.J. native is expected to be a key contributor for R-N, seeing minutes in the midfield and upfront for Coach East. A student-athlete who can both serve and score, DeRisi already has 17 career assists and seven goals.
 
A second-team all-conference pick in 2014, Dul will once again be a box-to-box player for the Scarlet Raiders. Dul dished out six assists as a sophomore and will be a dangerous weapon, already having experience 41 collegiate matches and totaling nine goals and nine assists for a total of 27 points.
 
Elias tied for fourth on the team with four assists in 2014, earning 10 starting nods and scoring a pair of markers as well. He has had a strong preseason thus far and should be key contributor in the Scarlet Raider midfield, earning time on the pitch with smart play. Elias has three tallies and five helpers in 37 career appearances.
 
Nowak will see key minutes in a starting or reserve role for R-N and hopes to be one of the top scorers on the squad. A big presence in front that knows how to score, Nowak found the back of the net four times as a sophomore and appeared in 20 matches – making six starts. The Oakhurst, N.J. native has nine career points.
 
O'Connell was a second-team All-NJAC selection after playing in all 22 matches for the Scarlet Raiders a season ago. O'Connell led the team with seven assists and was second in both goals (14) and total points (35). A player with great size, physicality and skills, O'Connell ranked 37th nationally in total points and 33rd in total goals as a sophomore after transferring to R-N from Chestnut Hill College.
 
Pazmino saw action in 13 matches for Rutgers-Newark as both a sophomore and freshman and will be another back looking to help fill the void left due to graduation across the back line. A player that should see minutes as both a starter and a reserve, Pazmino has displayed steady growth in his first two seasons in Newark.
 
Similar to Pazmino, Singh will be vying for minutes in back after playing in 27 matches in his first two seasons.  Singh had a hand in three shutouts in 2014, making five saves without allowing a goal in 159 minutes. A versatile player, the Carteret, N.J. native has played defense and keeper for the Scarlet Raiders.
 
Cianci has been fighting injury in the preseason and will look to work his way back into the rotation among the backs as the season progresses. Cianci saw action in eight matches as a sophomore and six as a freshman.
 
Another deep class for the Scarlet Raiders are the sophomores – forward Chigozie Atubi, goalkeeper Kevin Beites, midfielder Carlos Castro, goalkeeper Elmer Flores, back Isaiah Kuris, back Giuseppe Pollicino, midfielder Arek Szoldrowski and forward Alex Torres.
 
Atubi played in 16 matches (one start) as a rookie in 2014, scoring four goals and notching 11 total points. A player with excellent speed, pace and skills, Atubi has the talent and ability to play a big role for the Scarlet Raiders this year.
 
Beites played in one match for the Scarlet Raiders as a freshman, playing the final 21 minutes in a shutout of York College (N.Y.) on September 10, 2014.
 
Castro will see minutes as a starter and off the bench and is a technically sound player. Castro has improved a lot from 2014 to 2015 after playing in 16 contests as a rookie.
 
Flores has looked strong in the preseason and is working towards being the team's primary backup goalkeeper to Broomall.
 
Kuris earned time as a freshman and should be another central figure to the Scarlet Raider backline after playing in 11 matches in 2014. A sophomore that plays like a senior, Kuris has good feet and size and could be a key for the R-N defense.
 
Pollicino is another player competing for minutes in back after taking the pitch for four matches as a rookie – all of which were shutouts.
 
Szoldrowski made four starts and appeared in 19 matches for Rutgers-Newark as a rookie, scoring once. A player with a great work rate and technical skills, the Lawrenceville, N.J. native reads the game well, defends well and does an excellent job starting the Scarlet Raider attack.
 
Torres will be a threat up front for R-N, boasting nice one-on-one ability and speed. Torres tallied twice and had seven total points as a newcomer in 2014, taking to the field for 10 contests and earning assists in three-straight matches from October 1 to October 8.
 
A pair of transfers will join the Scarlet Raiders for the 2015 season in juniors Sebastian Gostynski and Adrian Mayorga.
 
Gostynski will see time in the midfield and up front and could be a dangerous weapon for the Scarlet Raiders. Another player with a great work rate and strong scoring instincts, Gostynski is one of many R-N players that can pick up the scoring slack left by graduation.
 
Mayorga has been solid in the preseason after transferring from Essex County Community College. A defensive center midfielder, the Garfield, N.J. native will help solidify the Scarlet Raiders in the middle of the field.
 
In addition to the transfers, Coach East has brought in 12 freshmen that will be in competition for roles on the field and working to improve.
 
Forward Damjan Agaj, midfielder Kevin Korycki, midfielder Ruben Barreto, back Brandon Goldy and forward Timothy Farias are five rookies that could see early minutes for the Scarlet Raiders.
 
Agaj has demonstrated great finishing ability so far along with one-on-one ability in addition to nice instincts at the net. Barreto needs to continue to improve but has demonstrated technical skills as well as quality speed and pace in his game, while Goldy has shown composure in back, one-on-one ability and connects his passes well in order to start the R-N attack. Farias has demonstrated an ability to score and has adjusted well to the speed of the college game, and Korycki's nice preseason has given Coach East another option in back with strength and foot skills.
 
Back Lello Scotto di Clemente, midfielder Zachary Gillespie, goalkeeper Mark Glodava, midfielder Victor Navas Jr., forward Alexander Politi, goalkeeper Christian Ramm and back Justin Thompson have all also put in strong work this preseason and will be fighting hard to earn playing time.
 
"I've been happy with our preseason, but we still have a lot of work to do in order to get where we need to," said East. "We lost an All-American and four all-conference players, but with what we have back and what we brought in, we really have a lot of options up and down the roster."
 
A team that won 33 matches over the last two seasons and has been in the national tournament back-to-back years, Rutgers-Newark hopes to experience similar success in 2015.
 
"The guys have been working hard, coming in each day and giving great effort," added East. "If we continue to do that, I think we will put ourselves in the position to qualify for the NJAC Tournament and put give us a chance to make the NCAA's."
 
The Scarlet Raiders will host the United States Merchant Marine Academy Tuesday night and then Brooklyn College on Wednesday. Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. and all the action can be seen live at www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com.